Adidas makes $200M bid to signal Houston Rockets star James Harden

However, Nike let their contract with Harden lapse as they tried to renegotiate and Adidas – still looking for a fulcrum, a superstar to build brand around – have jumped in with a $200 million offer, reports Darren Rovell of ESPN. That offer is reportedly worth $200 million over the course of 13 seasons, which amounts to $15.38 million per season or a pretty close approximation to what he’ll be pulling down for actually playing basketball yearly. Its different star is, whose aren’t actually displaying a lot promise. While he didn’t have a signature shoe – yet – the Nike Hyperchase was pretty much his shoe. In Harden’s deal, however, Adidas has to win if Nike can’t match the deal offered. Endorser John Wall shows plenty of flash, but his first signature Adidas line fell relatively flat this year.

James Harden became a very rich man when he signed a 5-year, $78.78 million deal with the Houston Rockets prior to the 2013-14 season and he’s made the Rockets very happy with their investment in him thus far.

Adidas’ run as the official uniform supplier of the National Basketball Association ends following the 2016-17 season, and Nike will take over in 2017. That is big for Adidas, who sells plenty of Originals and could always use a boost to its more expensive Y-3 line.

Adidas has struggled to land stars and have that translate to shoe sales.

Shoe business has skyrocketed in recent years, but Adidas hasn’t reaped the fruit of the upswing.

Nike may match, Rovell says.

The corporate hasn’t been afraid to pay large dollars to get huge properties in sports activities. Harden finished last season with the seventh-best selling jersey in the National Basketball Association.